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| UNDERWAY……!! What had been gnawing away, tugging at the hearts and memories of many shipmates became a reality this fall. The USS HULL (DD-945) sits in 2,096 fathoms west-southwest of San Clemente Island in the Pacific. Long have the Proud Lady's shipmates yearned for a reunion. Well, wishes came to fruition in September in Las Vegas. And, like a four star movie, the reviews are great: * Thank you for a job well done - Gary John * One hell of a good party - Nick Dimel * I thank all who had a hand - Worley Whitefield * Reunion was great, see you soon - Dave Henkel * I could go on and on…but it's time to say "amen" - Carl Decker * Great seeing fellow plankowners - Bill Rudolph * It lived up to the Hull reputation - Greg Zuelke * Sure wish I could have been there - Neil Rangen * I'm going to find others that didn't make it this time - Jim Ericson * Hearty welcome to another outstanding HULL Skipper Captain Rex Tallent - Bryce Wellnitz Nutz' quote is a good segue to remind everybody that we are now the USS HULL ASSOCIATION, with a leadership team in place comprised of CAPT Rex Tallent as President, MM1 Mike Gallegos Vice President (Membership), LTJG, SC Bob Modell Vice President (Reunion), John McKechnie, LT, SC (Treasurer). We have added LTJG George Tomek (Communications VP). |
HULL is going to be a
multi-task, multi-faceted ASSOCIATION. The next reunion, as
voted on by members in Las Vegas, will be back in the same city
about two years from now. We also embody the HULL tradition and legacy. President Tallent addresses an exciting aspect of what that means in his welcoming letter to all of you later in this newsletter. All of us have a proud tradition to live up to. For years, the survivors of the USS HULL (DD-350) have been hosting a reunion. Their numbers are diminishing with time, those brave men who survived that fierce typhoon in '44. However, these shipmates from another era will always be around because they're represented increasingly by their spouses, children and grand children. We met many of them in Vegas - in fact, that's why our first reunion was held there. Through these newsletters, we'll keep everybody up to date as to our activities and what you can do to help the USS HULL ASSOCIATION achieve its goals. To me, America and her allies have been a beacon to the world that peace comes only through strength and resolve. Nothing embodies that more than the United States Navy and the legacy of ships like those bearing the name HULL. Ships win battles, projecting the power of a nation and a cause. By so, they keep that beacon light of peace for the rest of the world glowing. /s/ George Tomek, CAPT, VP Communications & Newsletter Editor |
| USS HULL DD-945 ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER Page 2 |
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| The
Skipper Speaks Dear Fellow Shipmates: It is a pleasure to write this letter to each of you and it is an honor to be doing so as the first President of the USS Hull (DD-945) Association. Although we served aboard her at various times, there is a commonality each of us shares with the last of the all-gun destroyers. That common thread is that at one time or another, we all could call the ship "home." In one-way or another, it was a milestone in each of our lives. That spirit, that camaraderie must have been evident at the September Reunion in Las Vegas. I could see it in the website photos and the comments of those who were able to attend. I'm looking forward very much to working with the fine group of Association officers whom you elected at the Reunion Business Meeting. Vice Presidents Bob Modell and Mike Gallegos will do a fine job planning the next Reunion and increasing our membership. Our treasury will be under the dutiful and experienced eye of John McKechnie, HULL's Supply Officer under my command. Besides planning our next formal get together, there is one other matter I'd like to bring up. We all served on board the fifth ship to bear the "Hull" name in honor of Commodore Isaac Hull - Commanding Officer of the USS Constitution when she defeated the HMS Guerrière 19 August 1812. There is interest, and it is more than just idle interest, in having a sixth U.S. Naval ship commissioned with that venerable name. This is something I would like each of you to think about. As the process moves along, it may be something in which each of us could play a part. |
That
said, it's time to focus on the future - and from my vantage
point as your President we have some work to do to build on the
great success of our first-ever Reunion. I'm looking forward to
it and hope you are, too. Respectfully, C. R. Tallent
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